From John Duffy, Woodridge, Illinois: Bill Protz mentioned recently about a project to paint up 30 Mexican-American War figures. I will join in this project and volunteer to paint up 30 figures. This project should be coordinated through one person so that everyone does not paint up the same unit. The manufacturer of the figures should be established, so we have a close size relationship. Probably Frontier could be the standard. If a project like this was a success, it could be done in other periods besides Mexican-American War. You mentioned Essex in your newsletter and their Napoleonics. I have about 100 of these figures. Personally, I am a big fan of the Essex figures, not everyone cares for them as they are large 25mm's and the detailing is bold. I will game in any period, but my concentration is the 19th century, especially Napoleonics. I have figures painted for American Rev., Napoleonics, American Civil War, and Colonials. Napoleonics and and ACW are in 15mm. The Napoleonics are British although I plan to add French as the Peninsula is my favorite subject.
From Glenn Bednarek of New Berlin, Wisconsin: This is just another one of my disordered ramblings not worthy of publication (Editor's Note: "Oh yah?") but full of ideas, comments, etc. I approve of the new format for MWAN - very professional (Editor's Note: Glenn is a very discerning reader). I'd like to mention that I am in computer sales for Apple, IBM, and Compaq computers. If you know of any wargamers who are looking for some hardware and software, I would be more than happy to give them a sizeable discount off retail price. Computers definitely have a future in wargaming and I know of people who use them for inventory, scenario set-up, keeping information on uniform colors, etc. I can generally give up to 20% off on most things depending upon availability, etc., but must charge for shipping on mail order.
Since I don't have the time to do much for the hobby by way of judging games, attending as many conventions as I'd like, or helping Joe Gepfert with the Milwaukee Show as much as I'd like, this is one way I can help out. Any chance of a reprint of POLAROID BATTLEFIELD by Hr. Novak? INDUNAS, COLONELS AND EMIRS is available for 57.00 from The Reiter, 3440 South Monterey Drive, New Berlin Wisconsin, 53151.(Editor's Note' Thanks, Glenn for your kind offer. Glenn's full address is 15810 W. ElDorado Drive, New Berlin, Wisconsin, 53151. Maybe Greg Novak can let me know what the NUGGET'S policy on reprints is. It is a good article)
From John Bulter of Wilmette. Illinois: Bill Protz's idea of a project game sounds likea good idea, but does it have to be the Alamo? Instead of copying PW's game, why don'twe pick out another era? Like ancient history (I wonder where that idea came from?), the sedge of Jerusalem, or maybe a famous sedge during the 18th century or even the Middle Ages. I feel something different is in order so it will be the midwest's OWN!(Editor's Notes: If enough people are interested in such a project, someone is going to pick up the ball, so to say, and run with it and organize the project. I know Bill Protz has lot of irons in the fire, but I wonder if he would be interested?)
From Hike Adams of Chicago. Illinois: Have an answer for Glenn Bednarek (Vol III No.6). I have been in wargaming for about 20 years (I am 34 now) starting with Marx playsets. The last eight years I have been doing mostly ancients and have about 8,000 figures in 25mm. I personally think that the cost keeps many young gamers out of the hobby. When you have to raise a 1250 point army in 25mn, it costs an average of $90 to $130 Who could afford this? Base prices for some range from .65 to $1.75 for single figures. Ral Partha sells their Colonials for $4.00 for ten foot figures; why can't they do this for their ancients? It is now cheaper to order from England. Manufacturers say that blister packs cost too much, well, let's go back to boxes like before. After all, wargamers don't buy just one figure, they buy five to ten or more. I'd like to hear from the manufacturers.
(Editor's Notes: Mike raises some valid points, ones that a lot of wargamers wonder about. I don't have a lot of answers for Mike however, I would say that another way of viewing Ral Partha's low price on Colonials is not why don't they lower their prices on other ranges. but rather, when they released their Colonial range at their low price, it was the first time I can recall a major company lowering prices significantly. I don't really think that figure companies make huge amounts of money of figures. If you consider that 40% of the price we are paying goes to the middleman, that doesn't leave an awful lot for the company when designer, casting, marketing, etc., costs are considered, not to mention other types of overhead. When I went into wargaming the average 25mm figure was at about .25. Since then, my salary has increased threefold and the cost of a foot figure is around that increase (to .75). I do have difficulty understanding why the markup for imported figures is so high. I do know that a shop carrying figures from England has to make a considerable investment initially to be able to carry the line, postage costs are undoubtedly quite high, and a number of American suppliers have informed me that they have been burned more than once on transactions with English manufacturers that have not worked out well for them. It is not a simple issue, I am sure. I would appreciate some input from suppliers and manufacturers on this subject if anyone is interested in putting forth their opinions.
From Ken Bunger of Omaha. Nebraska: With regard to the Alamo project (possibly) please don't forget the wargamers in the Great Plains. I have a couple hundred Mexicans and will be at the Little Wars Convention.
From Thomas Shydler of Las Vegas, Nevada: It is nice to know that there are parts of the country where there are enough gamers to produce and support a newsletter of this size and quality. Here in the Great Salt Desert between the Midwest and California, those of us who play war-tames live as a sort of perpetual Donner party. I heartily, therefore, support one of your comments in the newsletter, namely devoting an issue to solo, wargaming. This would certainly be useful out here' I should mention by way of keeping you informed about your readership that I wargame in all periods, both in boardgaming(25%) and miniatures (75%).
Although I went into 15mm during the big push for this scale several years ago, I now play almost exclusively in 25mm. The main reason for this is that I have come to enjoy organizing, researching, and especially painting my pieces as much as playing with them. In the last few years I have returned to developing my own rules, going back in the process to those seminal works (now universially ignored as primitive) of wargaming such as CHARGE and LITTLE WARS. Between the realism vs playability school, I am finding myself more and more convinced that these areas are not at all incompatible. What is necessary is decide what level of action you are recreating, and avoid trying to burden "battle" level actions with rules for individualbattalion level activity.
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© Copyright 1997 Hal Thinglum
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